Correction mechanism for calendar watches

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS IS PROVIDED FOR MANUALLY CORRECTING THE DATE SHOWN ON A CALENDAR WATCH BY AN INDICATING MEMBER EXPOSED IN AN OPENING IN THE DIAL OF THE WATCH, THE APPARATUS COMPRISING A CORRECTION MEMBER HAVING A SINGLE RIGID RADIAL FINGER WHICH WHEN PIVOTED BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS   STRIKES A TOOTH OF THE INDICATING MEMBER AND MOVES IT ONE UNIT BUT UPON THE RETURN PIVOT TO THE ORIGINAL POSITION DOES NOT MOVE THE INDICATING MEMBER.

Fabufi, 1973 ZAUGG ETAL CORRECTION MECHANISM FOR CALENDAR WATCHES FiledD610. 13. 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet l 7 FIG. 1

Feb. 6, 1973 R. ZAUGG ETAL 3,114,174

commcnon MECHANISMFOR CALENDAR WATCHES Filed Dec. 15, 1971 2Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 2 United States Patent 3,714,774 CORRECTION MECHANISMFOR CALENDAR WATCHES Roland Zaugg, Grenchen, Werner Glanzmann, Bettlach,and Josef Fluck, Greuchen, Switzerland, assignors to A. Schild S.A.,Grenchen (Canton of Sollure), Switzerland Filed Dec. 13, 1971, Ser. No.207,222 Claims priority, applicatiolll Switzerland, Dec. 14, 1970,

0 Int. Cl. G04b 19/24 US. Cl. 58--58 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention relates generally to watches and more particularly to ameans for manually moving the data indicating member of a calendar watchwhich is normally actuated at intervals of 24 hours by the watchesmovement.

Numerous calendar watches are at present equipped with a correctionmechanism which makes it possible to change the indicating member ormembers of the calendar without changing the position of the hands. Thismechanism is very frequently actuated by the winding stern which isbrought for this purpose into a correction position which differs fromthe time-setting position and the winding position. In this position,rotation imparted to the stem causes rapid movement of the dateindicating member with respect to a window on the dial. Most watches areprovided with an annular date indicating member. One known correctionmechanism has a rigid finger capable of pivoting around a shaft and ofmoving in translation in such a manner that a pendulum movement impartedto the winding stem causes the end of the finger to describe a closedcurve which passes once into the teeth of the date member and advancesit one step. Other known correction mechanisms of the same typecomprise, rather than a correction finger, a star or member with anelastic arm pivoting around a fixed shaft so as to act on the teeth ofthe date member. Some of these mechanisms are also designed in such amanner that the correction member can actuate another indicating member,for instance a member indicating the days of the week.

The object of the present invention is to provide a correction mechanismwhich has the advantage over these known mechanisms of a simplerconstruction comprising a smaller number of parts operating in a morereliable manner which excludes any possibility of the correction memberremaining, after its actuation, in a position in which it interfereswith the normal displacement of the indicating member when the latter isduly actuated by the movement of the calendar watch.

In accordance with the invention, a correction member is provided whichhas a single rigid radial finger which, upon a pivoting movement betweena first and second position, cooperates with drive means for theindicator member. The mechanism includes a return element which acts onthe correction member to bring it back into the first position. Theindicating member drive means is arranged so that a pendulumdisplacement of the correction member from the first position to thesecond position and from the second position to the first positioncauses an advance by one step of the indicating member only during oneof the alternations of the said pendulum movement, the said indicatormember remaining in the same position upon the other alternation of thependulum movement.

The accompanying drawing shows by way of example one embodiment of themechanism in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a watch provided with anembodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line II--H of In the drawing therecan be noted a part of a calendar watch movement the pillar plate 1 ofwhich bears a date ring 2 and a day star 3 having fourteen teeth rigidlyconnected with an indicating disk (not shown) which covers the drivemechanism and the correction mechanism and the indications of whichappear in a window provided in the dial, while the dates from 1 to 31which are borne by the ring 2 appear in another window also provided inthe dial.

An aperture 4 is provided in the pillar plate to receive, as in anordinary watch movement, various parts of the winding and settingmechanism, including the winding pinion and the clutch pinion (notshown). A setting wheel 5 is in engagement with the clutch pinion whenthe winding stem (not shown) is in position for setting the hour andminute hands of the watch. In this position it is connected bytransmission wheel 6 and by intermediate wheel 7 to the minute wheel(not shown) so as to permit manual movement of the hands. The stem mayoccupy a third position which differs from the winding position and thesetting position, which third position is referred to as the correctionposition and also corresponds to the engagement of the clutch pinionwith the setting wheel 5. However, in this position the transmissionwheel 6 is no longer in engagement with the intermediate wheel 7 butrather with a pinion 8 which is part of a correction member 9 whichpivots in the pillar plate 1. The mechanism by which the pinion 6 isbrought into engagement with the pinion 8 when the stem passes from thesetting position to the correction position is not shown in the drawing.It comprises a rocking bar 28 (FIG. 2) pivoting around the shaft of thesetting wheel. This mechanism is known per se and does not form part ofthe invention.

The correction member 9 comprises a shaft 11 one end of which has a flatsurface 12. On this end of the shaft 11 there are engaged on the onehand a correction plate 13 and on the other hand a heart-shaped cam 14.As the central openings of these two parts are of noncircular shape andhave a flat surface corresponding to that of the shaft 11, they arefirmly connected to the shaft and rotate therewith. A washer 10 isinterposed between the plate 13 and the cam 14. As shown in FIG. 1 cam14 has the shape of a heart having a notch 14a centrally disposedbetween a first curved surface 14b and a second curved surface 140.These two arcuate surfaces are of different lengths. Plate 13 isprovided with a radial finger 13a and, on each side of this finger, twoshoulders or stop surfaces 13b and respectively which are directedradially and are located at diflerent distances from the finger 13a.

As can be seen from FIG. 2, the shaft 11 passes through a circularopening provided in a plate 15 which is fastened on the pillar plate 1and which constitutes the setting lever spring of the winding andsetting mechanism while serving to hold various parts of said mechanismin position and guide them.

The correction mechanism furthermore comprises as an essential element astamped spring plate 16 having two arms 17 and 18. It also comprises pin19 and a drive lever 20. The plate 16 is fastened to the pillar plate 1by a screw 21 and by guides 22 and 22a and one of its two arms 17, 18extends towards member 9 while the other extends towards the lever 20.The arm 17 is provided at its free end with a triangular protrusionwhich rests laterally against the cam 14. As to the arm 18 which extendsto the same height as the arm 17, it engages in a slot of circularcontour 23 provided in the lever 20, the entrance to said slot beingslightly larger than the width of the end of the arm 18. In this way arm18 normally holds the lever 20, which pivots around a flange around anaperture in bridge 29. A screw 24 fastens the bridge to the pillar platein a position of rest with L-shaped end 25 of the arm of lever 20opposite the day star 3. A stud 26 is fastened to the end of another armof lever 20 in the vicinity of the member 8 and in the path of thefingers 13a. The head of screw 24 rests on the flange of bridge 29 andsecures it against plate 1.

As can be noted from FIG. 2, pin 19 is a cylindrical stud which isforce-fitted into an opening in the plate 15. This pin is located in thepath of the stop surfaces 13b and 13c with which it cooperates todetermine the limits of the pivoting of the member 9.

Before describing the operation of this correction mechanism, it issufficient to state also that the inner teeth 27 of the date member 2also lie in the proximity of the member 9. Moreover, the jumper (notshown) which fixes the position of the date ring is arranged and placedin such a manner that one of the teeth 27 is in the path of the finger13a at a place such that a displacement of said finger in one directiondoes not result in shifting of the date member 2, while a displacementin the other direction results in such shifting. Thus the tooth closestto the member 9 is in an asymmetrical position with respect to theradial line connecting the common axis of the members 2 and 3 with theaxis of the member 9.

When the winding stem is in a position other than the correctionposition or when it is brought into said position, the member 9 has afirst orientation or neutral orientation shown in FIG. 1. The end of thearm 17 is engaged in the notch 14a of the cam 14 and assures thestability of the member 9 by resting against it due to its pre-cocking.If from this position the crown of the winding stem is turned inclockwise direction as seen from the outside of the watch, the member 9is driven in the counter-clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 1. It cancarry out a pivoting movement, while the arcuate portion 14b slidesbelow the protrusion of the arm 17 until the stop 13b comes into contactwith the pin 19. It then reaches a second critical orientation. Duringthis pivoting movement which may have an amplitude of up to slightlymore than 90, the finger 13a strikes one of the teeth 27 and displacesthe date ring 2 by one unit. Thus a simple pendulum movement issufiicient to correct the date ring by one step. Of course, instead ofbringing the stem into another axial position immediately after havingbrought the stop 13b into contact with the pin 19, one can also turn thecrown in the opposite direction without bringing about any shifting. Theengagement of the protrusion of the arm 17 into the notch 14a then marksthe moment when the correction member has been brought back into theneutral position which entirely frees the date member. In this case anew pendulum movement effected in the same direction as the first bymeans of the winding stem causes a second advance by one step of thedate ring. However, it is noted that the ordinary use of the correctionmechanism to correct the date ring by one step at the end of a month ofthirty days consists in effecting a rotation of about one-quarter of arevolution by means of the winding crown in clockwise direction and thenreturning said crown into winding position. The member 9 is thenreturned by spring 17 into the neutral orientation.

If the indication of the day of the week must also be corrected by ashifting of the star member 3, the crown of the winding stem is turnedin counter-clockwise direction as seen from the outside of the watch. Inthis case it is the arcuate shaped portion 14c which engages below theprotrusion of the arm 17 and the finger 13a moves in clockwise directionas shown in FIG. 1. It hooks the stud 26 of the lever 20 and displacessaid lever in such a manner that its projection 25 engages in the teethof the star 3 and displaces it by two notches of its toothed surface.After the finger 13a has passed below the stud 26 displacing the lever20, the stop 13c comes into contact with the pin 19. The member 9 thusreaches its third critical orientation. The movement of rotationnecessary for this is obviously less than that necessary to actuate thedate member, for which reason the arcuate portion 14c is shorter thanthe arcuate surface 14b and the stop 13c is, in neutral position, closerto the pin 19 than the stop 13b.

Upon the return movement of the member 9 into its neutral position, thelever 20 which has been brought back into the position thereof shown inFIG. 1 by the arm 18 of the spring 16 is displaced in the otherdirection without this displacement resulting in any action. Finally,the member 9 and the lever 20 are in the position shown in FIG. 1. A newpendulum movement of the winding crown in counter-clockwise directionand then in clockwise direction causes a new shift of the day star, andso on.

In this way there is provided a correction mechanism comprising only asmall number of parts which makes it possible to correct both the dateindicating member and the day indicating member by a simple pendulummovement of the drive member formed, in the embodiment described, by thewinding crown placed in correction position.

One of the advantages of the mechanism described here, in addition toits simplicity and ease of use, is the fact that the correction memberis held by an elastic member in its neutral position when it is notactuated. This arrangement makes it possible in particular, upon settingthe date and the day, after the stopping of the watch, to count easilythe number of steps by which the date member advances and in this way tocheck the setting to the date and day. As a matter of fact, eachcomplete pendulum movement of the winding stem produces an advance byone unit both of the date member and of the day member.

The correction position of the winding stem may be an inner positioninto which the stem comes by pressure exerted on the crown against theaction of a spring, which position is therefore not fixed. It may alsobe an outer position in which the stem is maintained only under theetfect of a pull exerted against the action of a spring. Finally, it mayalso be an intermediate position located between the time-settingposition and the winding position and established by known means.

Finally, the correction drive member may also be an auxiliary crownfastened to the end of a stem passing through the case alongside thewinding stem.

Of course, the mechanism described can also be used in the event thatthe calendar watch has only a single indicating member which advancesonce every 24 hours, for instance in a watch having only the dates.

The essential advantage of the correction mechanism described above isthat it is of the digital type. As has been shown above, a pendulummovement of the correction member between the neutral position and thestop with return to the neutral position causes an advance by one stepof the date member or of the member indicating the days of the week.Thus, at the end, for instance, of a month, if it is necessary toadvance the date ring by one step, the correction can be eifected evenwithout the user looking at the dial of the watch. By manupulating thecrown between his two fingers or even with only a single finger, hefeels the limits of the possible pendulum movement and thus controls thecorrection by feel. The same is true if the correction is to coverseveral dates or several days of the week.

Although the invention has been described in detail for the purpose ofillustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for thatpurpose and that variations can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except asit may be limited by the claims.

We claim:

1. In a calendar watch having a date indicator actuated by the movementof the watch at twenty-four hour intervals and a stem adapted to berotated while in a nonwinding and non-setting position, means responsiveto rotation of the stem while in the said position for manuallyactuating the said date indicator comprising a shaft, means fixed on theshaft for rotation therewith carrying a single rigid finger disposed toengage and move said indicator one unit only when rotated in onedirection from a first position to a second position, means for engagingsaid finger and stopping rotation of said means carrying the finger whenthe second position is reached, and means for rotating the said fixedmeans in an opposite direction until the said finger is returned to itssaid first.

position.

2. The watch of claim 1 wherein the said means for actuating the dateindicator has a circular periphery extending on each side from saidfinger each of which terminates in a shoulder extending radiallyinwardly at a position peripherally spaced from the finger and eachother and a circular peripheral edge of less diameter than that of thefirst said circular periphery, and means adapted to engage said shoulderand to stop rotation of the said finger carrying means from the saidfirst position when the second position is reached.

3. The watch of claim 1 combining with the said date indicator a meansfor indicating the day of the week and means for actuating the dayindicator responsive to rotation of the stem in a direction opposite tothat for actuating the date indicator comprising a rotatable starcoaxial with the date indicator and adapted to rotate and move the dayindicator when the finger moves from the said first position to a thirdposition.

4. The watch of claim 2 wherein the date indicator comprises a ringhaving thirty-one spaced internal teeth, said ring being positioned atrest asymmetrically with respect to the radial line of the common axisof the said indicators and shaft.

5. The watch of claim 2 wherein drive means for the day indicatorcomprises a shaft, a drive lever which pivots around the shaft, andmeans having one end thereof disposed in the path of the said fingerbetween the first and third positions adapted to move said star aboutits shaft.

6. The watch of claim 1 wherein said date indicator comprises a ring,inwardly projecting spaced teeth carried by the ring, a shaft, cam meanson the shaft adapted to rotate therewith, said cam having a recesstherein, means adapted to mate with said recess and support said camagainst rotation while at rest, a disk shaped member secured forrotation with said shaft having a single finger adapted only to engageone of said teeth as the finger is moved in one direction about saidshaft, said member having a circular peripheral edge adjacent each sideof the finger and terminating in a pair of peripherally spaced shoulderswhich extend radially inwardly and which are peripherally spaced fromeach other, said peripheral edge which precedes said finger as it isrotated from the first towards and second position being shorter thanthe trailing edge, means for rotating the cam and disk member until thefinger has returned to the first position and said mating means is againin said recess in the cam.

7. The watch of claim 6 wherein the means for rotating the finger of thedisk member from the second position to the first position is aresilient arm disposed laterally against the cam.

8. The watch of claim 7 wherein the cam is substantially heart shapedand said resilient arm has a substantially triangularly shapedprotuberance which mates with the recess of the cam while the cam restsin said first position.

9. The watch of claim 8 wherein said resilient arm is integral with asecond arm which actuates means for rotating the day indicator star.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,470,688 10/ 1969 Miyasaka 58-583,470,687 10/ 1969 Ono et al. 58-58 3,597,916 8/1971 Nakagawa 58-58GEORGE H. MILLER, JR, Primary Examiner

